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Derivative Instruments - Summarize Information by Major Category of CDS Contracts (Detail) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Transactions
Dec. 31, 2013
Transactions
Summary of information by major category of CDS contracts    
Gross principal notional outstanding $ 1,529,759invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount $ 2,776,103invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
Successor [Member]    
Summary of information by major category of CDS contracts    
Number of CDS transactions 16us-gaap_DerivativeNumberOfInstrumentsHeld
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_SuccessorMember
20us-gaap_DerivativeNumberOfInstrumentsHeld
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_SuccessorMember
Remaining expected weighted-average life of obligations (in years) 4 years 1 month 12 days 3 years 7 months 6 days
Gross principal notional outstanding 1,529,759invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_SuccessorMember
2,776,103invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_SuccessorMember
Successor [Member] | Credit Derivatives [Member]    
Summary of information by major category of CDS contracts    
Net derivative liabilities at fair value 73,459us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiabilityAmountNotOffsetAgainstCollateral
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= ambc_CreditDerivativesMember
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_SuccessorMember
94,322us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiabilityAmountNotOffsetAgainstCollateral
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= ambc_CreditDerivativesMember
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_SuccessorMember
CLO [Member] | Successor [Member]    
Summary of information by major category of CDS contracts    
Number of CDS transactions 6us-gaap_DerivativeNumberOfInstrumentsHeld
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_SuccessorMember
/ us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_CollateralizedLoanObligationsMember
7us-gaap_DerivativeNumberOfInstrumentsHeld
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_SuccessorMember
/ us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_CollateralizedLoanObligationsMember
Remaining expected weighted-average life of obligations (in years) 1 year 9 months 18 days 2 years 1 month 15 days
Gross principal notional outstanding 549,923invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_SuccessorMember
/ us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_CollateralizedLoanObligationsMember
1,337,737invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_SuccessorMember
/ us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_CollateralizedLoanObligationsMember
CLO [Member] | Successor [Member] | Credit Derivatives [Member]    
Summary of information by major category of CDS contracts    
Net derivative liabilities at fair value 2,027us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiabilityAmountNotOffsetAgainstCollateral
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= ambc_CreditDerivativesMember
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_SuccessorMember
/ us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_CollateralizedLoanObligationsMember
7,993us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiabilityAmountNotOffsetAgainstCollateral
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= ambc_CreditDerivativesMember
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_SuccessorMember
/ us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_CollateralizedLoanObligationsMember
Other [Member] | Successor [Member]    
Summary of information by major category of CDS contracts    
Number of CDS transactions 10us-gaap_DerivativeNumberOfInstrumentsHeld
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_SuccessorMember
/ us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_UnderlyingOtherMember
13us-gaap_DerivativeNumberOfInstrumentsHeld
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_SuccessorMember
/ us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_UnderlyingOtherMember
Remaining expected weighted-average life of obligations (in years) 5 years 5 months 2 days 5 years 0 months 15 days
Gross principal notional outstanding 979,836invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_SuccessorMember
/ us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_UnderlyingOtherMember
1,438,366invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_SuccessorMember
/ us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_UnderlyingOtherMember
Other [Member] | Successor [Member] | Credit Derivatives [Member]    
Summary of information by major category of CDS contracts    
Net derivative liabilities at fair value $ 71,432us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiabilityAmountNotOffsetAgainstCollateral
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= ambc_CreditDerivativesMember
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_SuccessorMember
/ us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_UnderlyingOtherMember
$ 86,329us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiabilityAmountNotOffsetAgainstCollateral
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= ambc_CreditDerivativesMember
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_SuccessorMember
/ us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_UnderlyingOtherMember